HOW TO MAKE SALT DOUGH ORNAMENTS

This year I really wanted to create a tree that felt natural. One that had our boys extra touch to it. Enzo is really loving everything about the season and I felt like this was the perfect time to embrace the season even more. So we kicked it up a notch and made our own homemade ornaments. I’m not trying to go crazy over here, so I went with what I currently had at home to make them. Below is the recipe and all the steps we took to get there, just in case you’re looking for something to do for the holiday season in your home.

SALT DOUGH ORNAMENTS RECIPE

THINGS YOU NEED TO MAKE HOMEMADE ORNAMENTS

• 4 cups flour 
• 1 cup table salt
• 1 1/2 cups warm water
• Mixing bowl and spoon
• Baking sheets
• Parchment paper
• Cookie cutters
• Forks and straws 
• White spray paint
• Acrylic paint
• Paint brushes
• Glitter 
• Clear spray paint
• Ribbon 

*When making with little ones I honestly like to prep as much as possible before they are around. This makes life easier for everyone involved and it also helps keep them engaged longer in the process.

INSTRUCTIONS TO MAKE ORNAMENTS 

1. Preheat the oven to 300°F.
2. Mix together the 4 cups of flour and 1 cup of table salt. Slowly add in warm water till all ingredients become too difficult to stir. At this point you will need to kneed the dough with your hands, just like you’re making a pizza. You should get a pizza like dough texture.
3. Get two pieces of parchment paper. Lay down one piece of parchment paper on the table and pull a small hand size amount of dough on paper. Lay second sheet of parchment paper on top of dough. Roll out dough till its about 1/8 inch thick. This is important because if you make the dough too thick it will crack and not create rad looking ornaments! You can thank me later for that tip.
4. With any cooking cutters you love, begin to cut out ornaments. 
5. Add texture to the ornaments with the straws and forks. 
6. Make a hole with the straw to string the ornaments to hand, it is important you don’t make the hole too close to the end to ensure it doesn’t rip!
7. Repeat steps 2-5 until all dough is used up.
8. Bake ornaments for about an hour. I like to check on them around 45 minutes to make sure they aren’t getting too brown. You know the ornaments are done once they feel hard. No need to worry if they do start to brown, I’ve got you covered.
9. Once the ornaments are cool I like to spray paint them white. This not only covers up any imperfections, but it also makes your ornaments look less like stale bread on your tree and more like a clay ornament. Two coats does the job. If you can have them dry in a warm space it speeds up the process.
10. Time to decorate. Bring out the acrylic paint and glitter! 
11. Once ornaments are dry you get to seal them with a clear coat of spray paint and add the ribbon!

Happy tree decorating and gift giving. These are perfect for both.